The Fourth of July is one of the most celebrated summer holidays. By now you have probably decided on a patriotic party theme like the fantastic Stars and Stripes theme. With just days to go until what may be one of your biggest celebrations this year you have a lot to do to make sure your party goes smoothly. These tips will help you stay organized as you prepare to host your patriotic party this weekend.

Double check all of your supplies. There is nothing worse than just hours before party time discovering that you are missing an essential supply or ingredient. Go through every one of your recipes and verify that you have all ingredients. Make sure you have plenty of paper goods, extra cups and utensils. You never know when a surprise extra guest will grace you with their presence so it is always better to have a few extras.

Make dishes you can ahead of time. You do not want to spend all day in the kitchen while your guests are there! Prepare meals or side dishes ahead of time so they do not require too much attention the day of the party. While there are some recipes that you will have to prepare just before the party, there are many time saving steps you can take to make speed up the process. Chop vegetables, marinate meats and make sure you have enough hamburger buns!

Clean and set up the night before. The earlier you can set up for the party the better. If you need additional tables and seating don’t leave that until the day of to put together. You will feel less stressed if you know that everything is just how you would like to be. You will also have more time to rearrange the set up to your liking. If you can, try to do your pre party cleaning a few days ahead of time so you can focus on more important tasks.

Review your RSVP list. Check over your guest list to make sure you have heard from all invited guests. If you haven’t, now would be a great time to make a phone call or write a quick email and ask politely if they will be attending. Knowing exactly how many guests you will have can help you prepare appropriately. Send out email reminders to guests that will be attending, remind them of fun activities that you have planned or special instructions on what they should bring if they have volunteered.

You will be the least stressed party planner around thanks to these tips. Your patriotic Fourth of July party will be fun for guests and easy for you to prepare for. An organized party host is able to spend more time visiting with guests and less time running around trying to finalize details. Have a happy Fourth of July celebrating our nation with your family and friends!